Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSALM2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFSALM2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a single-stem (disbudded) cut flower; large decorative-type inflorescences with light yellow-colored ray florets; and relative resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  chrysanthemi  and  Verticillium dahliae.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSALM2’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No. 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Feb. 1, 2019, application number 2019/0358. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFSALM2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Delisalma’, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Delisalma’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since June, 2012 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSALM2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFSALM2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a         single-stem (disbudded) cut flower.     -   5. Large decorative-type inflorescences with light         yellow-colored ray florets.     -   6. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.         chrysanthemi and Verticillium dahliae.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Delisalma’, in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have light yellow-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Delisalma’ have white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zembla Yellow’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,733. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Zembla Yellow’ in inflorescence size as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Zembla Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFSALM2’ grown as a disbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFSALM2’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum     x morifolium ‘Delisalma’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 77.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 82.2 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 20.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 79 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A and 146C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 13 cm. Width: About 9.2 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong.             Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately             lobed, coarsely serrate; sinuses convergent and moderately             deep. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; matte to slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately             pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to between 138A and 147B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A, venation, close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B to 146C.             Petioles: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by             4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Moderately to densely pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B; edges,             close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C; edges,             close to 137B. Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy             stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem.             Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Flabellate             with incised margins. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; matte             to slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative uncurved inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets             (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright; ray and             disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 115 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             48 days later when grown as a disbud-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a disbud-type, all             lateral inflorescences are physically removed and only the             terminal inflorescence is allowed to develop; if grown as a             spray-type, then typically about 23 inflorescences will             develop.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Grown as a disbud type, about             11 cm and grown as a spray-type, about 9 cm. Depth (height):             Grown as a disbud type, about 7.2 cm and grown as a             spray-type, about 3.3 cm. Disc diameter: If present, about 5             mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Roughly globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, slightly to             moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 143A             to 143B; immature ray florets, close to 5B to 5C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 240 arranged in             about eight whorls. Length: About 4.5 cm; varying between             2.5 cm and 5.7 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm; varying between 0.9             cm and 1.7 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; moderately to strongly             concave and moderately carinate. Apex: Bluntly and broadly             acute to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to about 90° from             vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 5C.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 4C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 3D; towards the apex, close to 4C;             venation, close to 3D and 4C; color does not change with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4D;             venation, close to 4D; color does not change with             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about             one to three massed at the center of the receptacle; disc             florets inconspicuous. Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1.25 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15% free.             Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, distally: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to             154D; towards the apex, close to 150B to 150C and towards             the base, close to 145C. Color, fully opened, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 154D; towards the apex, close to             150B to 150C and towards the base, close to 145C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 22             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About             6 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             143A; margins, translucent and close to 157D and 200D.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137C to 137D; margins,             translucent and close to 157D and 200D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2.4 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 5 mm. Length, third             peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About 4.5 cm.             Diameter, third peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle (when grown as a             spray-type): About 50° from the flowering stem axis. Texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 3 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per ray floret. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 145B.             Stigma diameter: About 1.25 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close             to 145A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.     sp. chrysanthemi and Verticillium dahliae. To date, plants of the     new Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests     and other pathogens common to plants grown under commercial     conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSALM2’ as illustrated and described. 